Designed by Space Group + Superunion Architects, their winning proposal for Ruten competition reflects the city of Sandnes’ development and establishes Ruten as a natural center and Sandnes as a future city with strong roots and a proud local history. The proposal, titled ‘Lysning’, consists of a ring that connects and creates the new transport hub and public space below for an attractive unifying roof. As the Central Park in New York was built before the Manhattan grid was condensed around it, Ruten has remained as a buffer in the urban development in anticipation of something bigger. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Sandnes’ historic center was a small-scaled urban structure with the country’s longest shopping street. The new district by the waterfront has another dimension – scaled up to the old industrial structures on site. By overlapping two adjacent contexts, the new Ruten can be adapted to both. Ruten will be the new Central Park, an identity creator and pivot point.